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In this photo feature, I have included diverse images showcasing the beauty of Bhaktapur’s lifestyle, traditions, heritage, and culture. These photos were also a part of an exhibition organized by ImagePasal in collaboration with the Bhaktapur Tourism Development Committee.

This marks my third-ever exhibition and my second in Bhaktapur. I had my first solo photo exhibition during high school at the Khwopa College Fete in 2013. Returning after a decade to showcase my photography makes me very happy, especially sharing the space with talented photographers— Amit Machamasi, Rojan Shrestha, Chandra Chakradhar, and Nandu Shrestha.

Bhaktapur continues to feel authentic on so many levels. Women dressed in traditional Hakupatasi and men in Daura Suruwal are sights unique to Bhaktapur, rarely seen elsewhere in the Kathmandu Valley. The heritage here is another standout—houses and their façades are carefully preserved and even reconstructed to maintain the old-times charm.

What’s even more remarkable is how traditions and culture thrive here. From elderly men to young children, everyone participates in festivals and rituals with great enthusiasm and excitement. These elements embody why Bhaktapur retains its spirit so naturally—a quality that should ideally be mirrored in all historic cities across the valley. Patan, for instance, still holds pockets of this kind of authenticity, making it remarkable.

Sudurpaschim Royals skipper Dipendra Singh Airee has won the car by being the best player of the Nepal Premier League.

Airee, who failed to win the Nepal Premier League title, won the car.

Similarly, Lalit Rajbansi of Janakpur Bolts has been rewarded with the motorbike. He is the season’s highest wicket-taker.

Janakpur Bolts defeated Sudurpaschim Royals by five wickets to clinch the title of first season of Nepal Premier League.

Chasing the target of 185 runs posted by Sudurpaschim Royals in the match held at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Saturday, Janakpur Bolts achieved the target in 19.2 overs losing five wickets.

Lahiru Milantha scored highest 87 runs for Janakpur, hitting nine fours and four sixes in 49 balls. With this, Milantha has become the highest run scorer in the tournament. He made 293 runs in 10 innings with two half centuries.

Janakpur scored 71 runs without the loss of any wicket in the powerplay.

Opener Aasif Sheikh contributed 33 runs off 19 balls with four fours and two sixes. Harsh Thaker scored 30 off 24 balls.

Winning the toss, opener Saif Zaib scored 69 runs off 43 balls, featuring eight fours and two sixes in 43 balls.

Another opener, Binod Bhandari added 41 runs off 31 balls. Similarly, Brandon McMullen and Harmanpreet Singh made 14 runs each and Scott Kuggeleijn scored 13 runs while other batters failed to score in double digits.

Mohammad Mohsin and Kishore Mahato took three wickets each for Janakpur. Likewise, James Neesham and Lalit Rajbansi claimed one wicket each.

Earlier, Janakpur had lost to Sudurpaschim by 72 runs in the league stage and by eight wickets in the first qualifier.

Nepali Congress leader Dr Shekhar Koirala has clarified that there is no bitterness between party President Sher Bahadur Deuba and himself.  

Koirala said so during a discussion held with the team led by Congress Kanchanpur President Padam Bogati in Kailali, Dhangadhi on Friday. He had reached Kailali to meet leaders and cadres of Sudurpaschim Province.

“Sher Bahadur Deuba is my party President and leader. I consider him as a brother,” district Secretary Bhim Bhatta quoted leader Koirala as saying. “We don’t have any differences. I came to Sudurpaschim because of him.”

During the program, Koirala also said that he is the natural candidate for the post of president in the 15th general convention of the party.

Leader Koirala, who is preparing to file his candidacy for the post of president in the 15^th general convention of the party, had reached Sudurpaschim, home province of President Deuba, today.

He was welcomed by the leaders and cadres of Sudurpaschim at the Dhangadhi Airport.  

South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), a regional network of human rights defender, believed that the Bhutanese refugees in Nepal are facing a grave humanitarian issue which needs the immediate attention of the government as well as the neighboring countries and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) before it reaches a critical point.

SAHR has been monitoring the state of the Bhutanese refugees of Nepali origin living in Nepal.

Issuing a statement, SAHR believes that it is critically important for the government of Nepal to positively address this issue as their own issue.

According to the SAHR, 6, 577 Bhutanese refugees of Nepali origin live in Beldangi of Jhapa and Pathari Sanischare, Morang district in eastern Nepal. About 1, 000 of these refugees are said to be disabled, infirm or elderly.

While talking to them, SAHR found that most of these refugees are living in these camps with the firm intention of returning to Bhutan.

SAHR urged the government of Nepal to allow these Bhutanese refugees of Nepali origin who are living in the country since 1990 on humanitarian grounds with the assistance of international organizations, according to the statement.

However, SAHR is concerned that these have not been entitled to any rights or benefits as refugees.

In addition, the UNHCR’s engagement with the Bhutanese refugees to provide healthcare and the World Food Program’s provision of food had halted in 2016.

Subsequently, these refugees have been deprived of basic entitlements such as education, healthcare and food and housing in order to achieve a dignified standard of living in Nepal.

SAHR is concerned that the dwellings living in the camps are the same temporary makeshift constructions that were provided to them in 1990.

At present, they are left to fend for themselves resorting to cautiously indulge in menial work with meagre insufficient earning risking government scrutiny leading to punitive actions, the statement further reads.

Currently, SAHR learns that the government of Nepal only provides Rs 15 per student at the Early Childhood Development Center and there are only 150 students in the camp who benefit from the program.

The Muglin-Narayangadh section of Prithvi highway would remain closed for a week during day time from December 22.

The road section would be closed for three hours daily till December 28 as the road section has to be improved by cutting the rock wall of Pokharebhir and Bishaltar.

According to engineer of Nagdhunga-Muglin road project west section, Bijay Darai, construction activities would be carried out from 11 am to 2 pm by prohibiting the entry of vehicles.

Heavy vehicles entering Gajuri from Naubise would be stopped at Galchhi-Baireni and light vehicles at Jarekhet while heavy vehicles entering Naubise from Chitwan would be stopped at Chalise and light vehicles at Ghatbesi in course of improving Pokharebhir.

Similarly, heavy vehicles entering Malekhu from Muglin would be stationed at Majhimtar and light vehicles at Charaudi bazaar while heavy vehicles entering Muglin from Malekhu at Benighat bazaar and light vehicles at Bishaltar in course of improving Bishaltar turning, he added.

Movement of ambulances and vehicles of security bodies would be allowed.

Investment has been secured for the 37-megawatt Upper Myagdi Hydropower Project, to be built in Dhawalagiri Rural Municipality-4. Five banks have agreed to invest Rs 5.34bn in the project, which is promoted by Hydro Empire Pvt. Ltd.

Representatives of Siddhartha Bank, Nepal SBI, Citizens Bank, Everest Bank, and Nabil Bank signed the investment agreement alongside directors of the promoting company in Kathmandu on Monday, according to Jit Bahadur Gharti, Managing Director of Hydro Empire.

The total project cost, excluding bank interest, is estimated at Rs 6.69bn. Including interest, the cost rises to Rs 7.63bn, with plans to repay the loan over 12 years.

The project, financed with 70 percent debt and 30 percent equity investment, is expected to generate 215.714 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually upon completion. The electricity will be transmitted to the Dadakhet substation via a 132 kV single-circuit transmission line spanning 10.2 kilometers.

“A 21-kilometer access road and two bailey bridges with capacities of 50 and 30 metric tons have been constructed. Preparations are underway for the construction of the project’s tunnel, dam, and power plant,” said Managing Director Gharti. “A civil contractor has been mobilized with the goal of generating electricity within the next two and a half years.”

The project has purchased 1.69 hectares of private land and utilized 3.69 hectares of government land. Approval has also been secured for the purchase of explosives required for construction.

The dam is proposed on the right bank of the Myagdi River, 130 meters below the confluence of the Sincos and Myagdi Rivers. An underground sand pond and a headrace tunnel will be built on the left bank, with the powerhouse located one kilometer upstream of the Myagdi and Mudi Rivers’ confluence.

Water channeled through a 3.553-kilometer tunnel will be delivered to the powerhouse from a 300.88-meter-high head. A 797.96-meter-long penstock pipe will connect the outlet to the powerhouse to generate electricity.

Four additional hydropower projects have been approved for construction along the Myagdi River, which flows through the foothills of the Dhaulagiri Mountains. The 53.5-megawatt Upper Myagdi First project has commenced construction, while the 14.7-megawatt Mudikhola and 57.3-megawatt Myagdi Khola projects are constructing access roads.

Meanwhile, Dhaulagiri Kalika Hydro Limited laid the foundation stone for the 25-megawatt Darwang Myagdikhola Hydropower Project in Malika Rural Municipality five years ago, but progress on the project has stalled.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 500 per tola in the domestic market on Friday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 148, 500 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 149, 000 per tola on Thursday.

Similarly, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 60 and is being traded at Rs 1, 760 per tola.